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Surgeon
Healthcare

How to become a Surgeon

What does a Surgeon do?

Looking to carve out a new career? You should become a Surgeon…Surgeons are medical practitioners, who solely specialise in surgery. Using their medical knowledge and expertise, they perform operations to address a range of injuries, diseases and degenerative conditions.They may choose to specialise in one area, such as cardiothoracic surgery (dealing with heart and lung problems), otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat surgery) or plastic surgery, for example, or in general surgery, and work in a private capacity or for the NHS.Typical duties for a Surgeon may include:
  • Talking to the patient and their families to explain procedures
  • Arranging x-rays and deciding on the best procedure for the situation
  • Operating on patients
  • Completing ‘ward rounds’ and visiting patients each day to monitor progress before and after surgery
  • Training newly qualified doctors and supervising their work
  • Completing paperwork

Is a career as a Surgeon right for me?

For anyone interested in becoming a Surgeon, an active interest in physiology and a desire to care for others are absolutely non-negotiable.Becoming a full-qualified Surgeon is a commitment that will take years to complete, and a passion for the profession will definitely be your key to success.Additionally, the majority of a Surgeon's work is carried out as part of a larger team, including other Doctors, Anaesthetists and Nurses. If you’re more comfortable working on your own, this may not be the career for you.Other key skills for a Surgeon include:
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • The ability to work well under pressure
  • Trustworthiness
  • Professional integrity
  • Excellent decision-making and problem-solving skills
  • Manual dexterity

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Career progression and salary expectations for a Surgeon

1

Trainee Surgeon

| Up to £22,000
2

Surgeon

| Up to £60,000
3

Consultant Surgeon

| Up to £100,000

Get qualified as a Surgeon

You will need at least five years’ of Medical School training, and up to four years’ worth of hospital-based surgical training, in order to practice as a Surgeon.

Recommended Surgeon courses

  • Paediatrician Training

    Cambridge Open Academy
    CPD Accredited | Updated Module 2024 | Free PDF Certificate | Lifetime Access | Experts’ Crafted
    • Online
    • 2 hours · Self-paced
    • Certificate(s) included
    • 10 CPD points
    • Tutor support
    Great service
    Picture this: you're walking through the bustling corridors of a children's hospital, the air filled with the laughter and chatter of young patients. As a Paediatrician, you are entrusted with the profound responsibility of safeguarding the health and well-being of these precious …
    £14

  • Tree Surgeon Training Course

    Compliance Central
    Empower Your Career | CPD Certified Course | FREE PDF Certificates | Lifetime Access | Free Exam & Assessment
    • Online
    • 10 hours · Self-paced
    • Certificate(s) included
    • 10 CPD points
    • Tutor support
    Great service
    ...In the Tree Surgeon course, you will learn the essential knowledge needed to become well versed in Tree Surgeon. Our Tree Surgeon course starts with the basics of Tree Surgeon and gradually progresses towards advanced topics. Therefore, each lesson of this Tree Surgeon course is intuitive …
    £12

What's it like to be a Surgeon?

"Being a Surgeon isn't quite as glamorous and dramatic as you see on TV, but that doesn't mean it’s any less rewarding. Every day we’re working to help improve people’s quality of life, which feels pretty great. My favourite part of the job is going on ward rounds, and seeing people recover from surgery and get better is a great feeling. My advice to any aspiring Surgeon would be persistence. It’s a highly-competitive industry to get into, and it takes a long time to become qualified. But when you see the gratitude on someone’s face after a life-changing operation, all the hard work will be worth it."

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